[openbeos] Re: (No Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 22:26:37 +0100

  • From: "Chris Peel" <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <openbeos@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2006 16:19:55 +0100

Thanks for the reply DarkWyrm, I'll check out the article you point to.
Certainly being able to "change window decorators, system colors, icon sets,
and probably system cursors" will be more than enough for what I want and
answers my query exactly! :)

As for the driver/icon themeing comment - I only meant it as an example that
just because people shout for bluetooth/wifi drivers (and they get them) I
couldn't see why me asking about icon themeing got shouted down.  No matter
though; I don't want to perpetuate things - it's obviously an emotive topic.

I apologise that I missed the various discussions - I don't follow the
mailing list as closely as I'd like to and am selective about what I read
which I agree means I miss things frequently - especially when topics get
embedded in other unrelated threads.







-----Original Message-----
From: openbeos-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:openbeos-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of DarkWyrm
Sent: 07 September 2006 11:59
To: openbeos@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [openbeos] Re: (No Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 22:26:37 +0100


> I never changed the icon set on any of my OS installs. And I'm not a
> corporate user either.
> I also don't know anyone personally that has changed his icon set to 
> something else.
> Don't explain the world from your preferences and likes.
> Do Windows and/or MacOS come with themability? No. Is this a problem? 
> No, not really. And if you really have to do it, there are ways to do 
> it (the customization sites you mentioned - those may exist for Haiku 
> as well). It really doesn't have to be part of the OS for a minority 
> group, how loud they may shout.
Hopefully, I can put this to rest once and for all because I made a 
deliberate design decision about it years ago when I was still working 
on the app_server exclusively. Everyone on the project at the time 
seemed comfortable with and I am sticking to it -- quite a few people 
have fairly strong feelings about the whole issue.

Haiku R1 have just a slightly higher level of customizability than R5: 
you will be able to change window decorators, system colors, icon sets, 
and probably system cursors, but there will be no 'skinning' support 
(theming of controls). This is a good balance between the "anything 
goes" mentality of Linux and the "one theme to rule them all" model of 
OS X. There is a *lot* of room for customizing the OS with this, 
despite what some may say. I wrote an article about arguments for and 
against skinning some years ago which explains the stance, but the 
basic conflict is usability vs customizability.

"I Want to See Some Skin" -
http://darkwyrm.beemulated.net/usability/skinarticle/skinarticle.htm

This topic (like 'We Need/Don't Need a Mascot') comes up from time to 
time and always causes a flurry of activity without accomplishing 
anything. Considering that it's a done deal as far as Haiku is 
concerned, let's please let this discussion stop here. :^)

--DarkWyrm

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